News Mash-up: Japanese Exports

Japan’s record-breaking anime film Demon Slayer lands in US cinemas The record-breaking Japanese anime film Demon Slayer: Mugen Train carried over its box-office buzz to the U.S. on Feb. 26, captivating Florida fans in its first screening. The Demon Slayer film, based on a popular manga and TV anime series, has grossed over $350 million (¥37.3 billion) at theaters in Japan, despite COVID-19 restrictions, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki’s Oscar-winner Spirited Away in just over two months to become the most successful Japanese anime of all time. “It exceeded my expectations. I cried so much,” said 20-year-old Miami resident Alex Acosta. “The animation was so good. It was a great storyline, for sure. I loved it,” she said. (Reuters) Toyota group tops global auto sales in 2020 Toyota Motor Corp. group ranked top in global auto sales in 2020 for the first time in five years on a robust pickup in sales in China and the United States, overtaking Volkswagen AG of Germany, data showed Jan. 28. Toyota said it sold 9.53 million vehicles globally last year, including those sold by its group’s mini-vehicle maker Daihatsu Motor Co. and truck manufacturer Hino Motors Ltd., down 11.3% from a year earlier. A Toyota official said the company’s aggressive sales strategy, which saw it roll out a series of new models, contributed to relatively solid sales in 2020 compared to other automakers. (Reuters) These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.